Footwear



Feb. 9, 1932 J. J. LISTA FRAGA FOOTWEAR Filed F96". 2a, 1930 VENTOR dzmazs' Jlifiia E7 His ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES JAMES J. LISTA FRAGA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOOTWEAR Application filed February 26, 1930. Serial No. 431,576.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in footwear, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly eflicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of this invention is to provide a shoe construction which will include a unitary sole and heel structure formed of such material which Will reduce the usual wear of the heel and sole to a minimum and which may be treated or formed of such material which will prevent the absorp tion of moisture, which will be reducing the possibilities of contracting illness to a minimum, which illness is usually caused by moisture coming into contact with the foot.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shoe structure adapted for street walking, ice skating, or which may be used by football players, or as hunting boots, and one which will be of such a structure as will assist in the upper part of the shoe retaining its shape, thereby eliminating to a great eX- tent injury or deformation of the foot usually caused by the upper portion of the shoe losing its shape.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be herein after described and claimed.

The invention will be bestv understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the unitary sole and heel embodied in the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the shoe embodied in the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, indicates the heel plate of the shoe which is formed in the present instance as an integral part of the sole portion 11. This is accomplished by forming the heel and sole in a unitary structure by shaping the heel and sole from a suitable piece of material such as birchwood or the like. The inner sole is indicated at 12 and is likewise formed as an integral part of the heel and sole. This inner sole has its peripheral edge 13 set inwardly of the peripheral edge 1 1 of the sole and heel whereby to provide a flange 15 extending completely around the peripheral edge of the insole 12. The upper of the shoe is indicated at 16, and this upper is attached to the shoe bottom inthe following manner.

This upper 16 is preferably formed of suitable leather, and the toe and heel portions 17 and 18 thereof are preferably of a size to fit over the insole 12 with the edges 19 thereof disposed against the peripheral edge 13 of the insole. These edges 16 are secured to the peripheral edge 13 by means of binding tacks or nails 20. If desired, a small amount of adhesive material such as glue or the like may be placed upon the face 21 of the edge 1.9 whereby to provide an additional securing means between the upper and the bottom of the shoe.

The edge 19 is further bound to the sole structure by means of a binder or finishing strip 22. This finishing strip 22 is preferably formed of flexible material so that it may be 7 folded upon itself to provide a bottom strip 23 secured to the flange 15 by nails 24: and an upperstrip 25 covering the strip 23 and secured to the shoe bottom by means of tacks or nails 26. As an additional securing means this hinder or finishing strip may be adhesively secured to the flange 15 if desired. This finishing strip dresses the edge of the shoe adjacent the heel and sole and conceals the edge 19 at its point of connection with the shoe bottom.

a The material from which the heel and sole are formed may be of any approved material which will reduce the wear to a minimum, and in addition the material may be treated by a chemical which will make the shoe bottom a waterproof construction.

My shoe is especially designed for street wear and may be equally used for athletic purposes. In view of the fact that it is preferably intended that the material from which the heel and sole be formed is waterproof, it is obvious that the likelihood of the foot becoming damp or wet is greatly eliminated.

In addition to this it is pointed out that the arch of the shoe is rigid by reason of the unitary construction.

, If desired, the insole may be covered with 5 a thin layer of padding so as to provide a cushion for the foot.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efi'ect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a boot or shoe including an upper connected to a rabbeted sole by means of nails driven into the rabbeted portion of the sole substantially parallel to the bottom face of the sole, of a strip extended around the rabbet and folded upon itself with the fold thereof directed inwardly so as to obscure said nails and weatherproof the point between. the upper and sole, and nails extended through the upper and lower folded portions of said strip and into the sole in a direction substantially at rightangles to said first named nails.

2. In combination with a boot or shoe including an upper connected to a rabbeted sole by means of elements driven into the rabbeted portion of the sole substantially parallel to the bottom face of the sole, a strip of material extended around the rabbet and folded upon itself with the fold thereof directed inwardly so as to obscure said elements and weatherproof the joint between the upper and sole, and means extended through the upper and lower folded portions of said strip and into the sole to secure said strip thereto.

3. Incombination with an article of footwear including an upper connected to a rabbeted sole by means extended into the rabbeted portion of the sole, a strip of material extended around the rabbet and folded upon itself with the fold thereof directed in wardly so as to obscure said means and weatherproof the oint between the upper and sole, and means extended through the upper and lower folded portions of said strip and into the sole to secure said strip thereto.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES J. LISTA FRAGA. 

